Choosing the Right SASE Vendor: for a Guide for Smart Decision-Making

 

 

 

 

 

David Nelson - Product Lead, Security and Connectivity

October 2023

by David Nelson – Product Lead, Security and Connectivity

In the dynamic realm of cybersecurity, Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) has emerged as a game-changing paradigm that promises to redefine how organisations approach network security.

As organisations seek to enhance their security while embracing modern networking demands, driven by rapid public cloud adoption and hybrid working patterns, selecting the right SASE vendor becomes a pivotal decision.

In this article, we’ll take you through several critical factors to consider when evaluating potential vendors for your SASE implementation. We’ll also shed light on the value an MSP brings to the table in ensuring a seamless and successful deployment.

How do you make the right choice?

Choosing a SASE vendor goes beyond a simple transaction, it’s about forging a partnership that will impact your security posture and operational efficiency for quite some time.

Of course, making the right choice will depend on your specific needs. This could be related to your timeline, your budget and, to a large extent, your priorities for networking and security. So, you need to be clear on what it is you want to do. If you are still not there yet, make sure to follow our 4 steps to successful SASE integration.

And with the rapid innovation and integration in vendor technology stacks, your evaluation and subsequent implementation will no doubt present a challenge.

Why Customer Feedback Matters

Customer feedback can be invaluable. You can research customer reviews and case studies to gain insights into real-world experiences. Likewise, take into consideration a vendor’s standing in analyst evaluations and reports. These assessments provide an objective perspective on their capabilities. You can also find feedback on forums and analyst websites, such as Gartner, who even provide reviews on single vendor SASE offerings (you can view that here).

However, a note of caution. As mentioned earlier, vendor technology stacks are developing rapidly. What might have been a headache for a customer six months ago may have now been resolved through a new feature or API, a new integration or even a new acquisition.

What you are looking for here is a sense of their track record, commitment to innovation and how accessible their roadmap for innovation will be to your organisation.  

For the best feedback, I would always recommend talking to a Managed Service Provider (MSP) with experience delivering SASE solutions. An MSP will have insight into vendor roadmaps and experiences to share that you might not find elsewhere. Look for a consultative MSP to avoid a hard sell, one size fits all approach. Depending on how your requirements vary by location and/or application, it may be that a mixed vendor “hybrid” approach, tightly integrated by an MSP, is the most appropriate and cost-effective solution for your organisation.

Check Out the Breadth of Portfolio

Of course, security is the cornerstone of SASE. And you should scrutinise a vendor’s security features, such as encryption protocols, threat detection, and data loss prevention mechanisms. Look for certifications and compliance with industry standards as indicators of their commitment to security.

If you are looking for data sovereignty, there are specific choices you need to make.

Not only are you looking at the technology but the service support available from a vendor. Prompt and reliable support can make or break your SASE experience. Look at the vendor’s support offerings, including response times, availability, and expertise of their support team. This can be labour intensive and an area you might want to consider carefully as you balance your resources.

Again, work with an MSP to understand not only their support and manage service options but what support they get from vendors and therefore how they can take this headache away from you and allow you to concentrate on your core business.

Review Vendor Scalability and Flexibility

There is no doubt your organisation will change over time. And as it grows, your SASE solution should scale accordingly.  So, it is important to assess a vendor’s ability to accommodate increasing demands without compromising performance or security. A vendor that supports scalability ensures your investment remains relevant in the long run. Pay particular attention to evaluating the licence model of each vendor. This can get complicated and costly if not modelled against future growth.

Assess Integration Challenges

Consider how well a solution would integrate with your existing infrastructure and security tools. Do you already have several existing network and security systems in place? It can be challenging to integrate these into a single-vendor SASE solution, especially if those systems are from different vendors. The upshot is that compatibility with your current technology stack will reduce disruption and makes adoption smoother. So, make sure your team has the right experience and skillset to undertake this assessment or risk costly project changes. If they don’t, then consider an MSP to fill this gap too.

Usability and Management Impact ROI

We want to simplify and secure operations, right? So, a user-friendly management interface is key to efficiently overseeing your SASE deployment. And this is an area of evaluation that requires specific care and attention. Have your team take a close look at the tools they will use to manage their SASE. You will be looking for intuitiveness, options for customisation, Role Based Access Control (RBAC) and centralisation capabilities. These are all key to delivering that ROI on your investment.

The MSP Advantage in SASE Implementation

Navigating the complexities of SASE implementation can be challenging, especially given the multitude of considerations involved. This is where a Managed Service Provider (MSP) can be your strategic ally.

Expertise and Guidance

An MSP brings specialised expertise in SASE deployment. They understand the nuances of vendor evaluation and can provide valuable insights to align your needs with the right solution.  A trusted MSP will have experience working with a variety of SASE vendors. They can help you evaluate different options and select the one that is the best fit.

With a deep understanding of security threats and network infrastructure, an MSP can help assess your security needs and make sure that the SASE vendor you select can meets those needs. Maintel offer a portfolio of Network Readiness Assessment and Cyber Security Maturity services to help you make the right choices.

Tailored Solutions

Look for an MSP that can tailor SASE implementations to your unique requirements. You will need to work with one that can craft a solution that caters to your specific security needs, networking demands, and growth objectives. Not all MSPs are the same. When it comes to tailoring SASE, the feature criteria can be critical to meeting your networking needs.  And by deploying and configuring the solution, an MSP can help tailor those features to optimise performance and security.

The feedback we get from customers is that we deliver what they need, rather than a one size fits all solution. That’s important. There are choices and trade-offs to be made and you need to be made aware of them early in the process.

Implementation Support

From initial setup to migration, an MSP should ensure a seamless transition. They can handle technical intricacies, minimise disruption and maximise the effectiveness of your SASE solution.

When it comes to implementation, having the right skills in planning is just the start. Having the experience and a knowledge bank of pitfalls and challenges can make the difference to delivering your project on time and within budget.

And because we’ve seen this countless times, we’ve been able to establish a proven 8 step methodology to ensure rapid implementation at the least cost.

Ongoing Management

SASE is an evolving landscape. An MSP provides continuous monitoring, proactive threat detection, and updates to keep your solution at peak performance and security levels. The importance of a proactive and responsive managed service cannot be overlooked.

That’s why we have developed a flexible model for managed services. We created four tiers that are fully flexible so can be easily tailored to meet the specific needs of our customers. To find out more about our fully managed and co-managed options, you can call one of our team for a brief overview.

Scalability Planning

MSPs assist in scalability planning, ensuring your SASE solution grows alongside your organisation. This foresight prevents bottlenecks and optimises resource allocation.

Don’t overlook the scalability challenge as your users, data, threats and costs need to be managed.

If you are set for growth, then the number of users and devices that need to be protected is likely to be increasing all the time. An MSP will need to have the capability to quickly help you scale and handle this growth without sacrificing performance or security.

It goes without saying, the volume of data that needs to be protected is also increasing. A scalable SASE architecture will need to be able to handle this growth without impacting the performance of the network or the security of the data.

Of course, the number of threats you face is also increasing. This is where a collaboration with an MSP can really come into its own. A scalable SASE solution coupled with managed detection and response to provide protection against a wide range of threats, including new and emerging ones, can form the bedrock for rapid incident response. This could literally be the difference between avoiding a significant business impacting event, or not.

Finally, a scalable SASE solution can help businesses to save money. By only paying for the resources you need, you can avoid overspending on security and networking.

Integration Expertise

With experience across multiple technologies, MSPs excel in integrating SASE components with your existing infrastructure. Their experience ensures seamless interoperability, reducing the risk of compatibility issues. I won’t spend too much time on this here, as we have another article about this and I would encourage you to read that, the challenges of SASE integration and interoperability can be solved with a trusted MSP.

Do you want to make an informed choice?

We’ve only scratched the surface on 5 key considerations and challenges of selecting a SASE vendor.

And we’ve recognised the complexities involved in this process and the value of a trusted MSP.

So, let us guide you through your vendor evaluation and align this perfectly with your goals.

With Maintel as your partner you can embark on your SASE journey with confidence, knowing that your investment will yield the transformative results you seek.

To find out more, just call us or get in touch and one of our experts is on hand to help.

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